Redoute's Choice Filly Brings Big Price in Australia

The major international buyers have left Australia, but as day one of the Australian weanling and boodmare sale ended in Sydney on Sunday, it was obvious the buzz they created last week at the yearling auction still hung over the crowd. Weanlings were fetching big dollars, led by a daughter of Redoute's Choice.

She went for a record-equaling Aust$400,000. She was the only Redoute's Choice offspring in the sale and was offered by Attunga Stud. William Inglis, as agent, bought her for an Australian owner. A bay, the filly is out of the stakes producer Diorama (by Zedative).

The second most expensive weanling of the day was an Encosta de Lago filly offered by Coolmore Stud, as agent, and bought by Riverslea Farm for Aust$300,000. Riverslea is a young farm owned in partnership by Damien Flower and Steve Irwin (no, not the croc hunter). Flower is cashed up after selling his group I-winning 3-year-old Snitzel (by Redoute's Choice) to Arrowfield Stud for Aust $12 million last week. The Encosta de Lago filly is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Langfuhr   mare Shalang, a half-sister to the multiple group I winner Shame.

The first weanling by 2004 Horse of the Year Lonhro (Octagonal -- Shadea) also proved very popular despite being a rather skinny thing. He sold to Inglis as agent for Aust$150,000. The top-priced colt was offered by Lonhro's owner-breeder, Woodlands Stud.

Overall, 150 weanlings brought gross receipts of Aust$3,728,200 for a record average of Aust$24,855.The clearance rate was excellent 88%.

Once the weanlings departed, the much anticipated broodmare section of the sale kicked off. The unreserved nature of the dispersal on behalf of the receiver and managers of Written Bloodstock Syndicate was undoubtedly one of the highlights. One of its number fetched the top price of the day. Group I winning mare Our Egyptian Raine (Desert Sun -- Egyptian Queen) sold for Aust$900,000 to the bid of bloodstock agent Kieran Moore.

"She's a nice type," said Moore, "She was a very genuine performer and a great racemare."

Although buying on behalf of new European based clients, Moore indicated the mare would remain in Australia to foal the Good Journey baby she was sold carrying and then be covered by Redoute's Choice next season.

Offered by the same vendor on behalf of the same receivers was the three-time group I winner Paraca (Kitwood -- Paraguaya), who sold to South African agent Robin Bruss and his Northfields Bloodstock Sales for Aust$800,000. Paraca won her group I races while racing in South Africa. She came to Australia as a 4-year-old and won at the group III level. She, too, was in foal to Good Journey (Nureyev -- Chimes of Freedom).

"There has been good competition for mares at all levels of the market today,"said William Inglis & Son managing director Reg Inglis.

Steve Brem, former racing manager for the powerful Gai Waterhouse team, has found a home buying horses for a select number of cashed-up clients. He came to the sale with Aust$3 million and spent Aust$500,000 of that on the young mare Lady Larissa (Belong to Me -- Lady Capel). She is in foal to General Nediym, At the end of this, the second session, the cumulative gross was running at Aust$16,089,050 for 293 mares sold. The average was Aust$54,911.